As NFL free agency opens, the Broncos are shopping for a running back. Makes sense. Coach John Fox likes to pound it on the ground. So a big, tough back capable of pushing the pile and chew the clock in the fourth quarter is a necessity in the Denver offense.

Question is: Which running back would you like to see Denver land? The Broncos have shown interest in Rashard Mendenhall of Pittsburgh. But fans are clamoring for Steven Jackson of St. Louis. Mendenhall, a 1,000-yard rusher for the Steelers in 2009 and 2010, is coming off a knee injury and has a history of spats with Pittsburgh management. Jackson, one of the few bright spots on a dull Rams team, is a workhorse who has nearly 2,400 carries on his resume and will turn 30 years old in August.

Peter Burns is intrigued by Jackson. I think Mendenhall could be signed at a decent price with a high risk/reward upside. Listen as we wage a big debate on these two big backs here:

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What do you think? If you were Broncos executive John Elway, would you spend money in free-agency on Mendenhall or Jackson? Or would you look elsewhere, maybe to Shonn Greene of the Jets or Ahmad Bradshaw of the Giants?

Kick it with Kiz and Peter Burns by joining the discussion on the radio Monday through Friday from 7-9 a.m. At 93.7 FM and 1510 AM.

NFL free agency is all about the Benjamins. If you want to be a champion, spend wisely, my friend. In a budget-driven sport, are economics pushing defensive end Elvis Dumervil out the building down at Dove Valley?

For a legitimate Super Bowl contender, the Broncos have a long shopping list of desired upgrades, from cornerback to running back. They have expressed interest in Pittsburgh running back Rashard Mendenhall and taken a gander at cornerbacks such as Greg Toler from Arizona.

But, in a league with a salary cap, every team must make tough decisions based on money, not sentiment. Can the Broncos make a net gain in the opening week of free agency if they end up saying goodye to Dumervil? Listen to Peter Burns and I discuss it here:

Peter Burns is a radio show host for Fox Sports Radio and Mile High Sports Radio in Denver. He is a former collegiate athlete and grew up in Baton Rouge, La. A self-proclaimed fan-analyst, Peter has covered every major sport for over a decade, including four NBA Championships with the San Antonio Spurs.